The 2024 Illinois High School Association boys and girls golf state finals are set.
Sectionals were held Monday, whittling down the three classes for boys and two girls classes. State qualifiers include the top three sectional teams along with the top 10 individuals not on an advancing team.
The two-round state finals are Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19 in Bloomington and Normal for the boys, while the girls heads to Decatur on the same days.
IHSA golfers: Breakout boys golfers | Breakout girls golfers
Here are four Peoria-area golfers and one team to watch heading into next weekend’s state finals — plus a full list of area qualifiers.
BOYS
Grady Burrell, Delavan
Burrell tied for the fifth at the Class 1A Quincy Notre Dame Sectional. He shot a 3-over 75 at Spring Lake Country Club in Quincy. The freshman parred the first 17 holes to pace Delavan. The Panthers finished third as a team, qualifying for the state finals at Bloomington’s Prairie Vista Golf Course next Saturday for the first time in program history.
The reigning golfer of the year will play in the Class 2A state finals at Weibring Golf Club in Normal. He turned in a medalist effort at the Class 2A Champaign Centennial Sectional. Watson shot a 6-under 72 at the U of I Golf Course in Savoy. He birdied 1, 4 and 8 on the front 9 for a 2-under 34. His back 9 round included birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 17.
Chase Hopper, Morton
Hopper tied for ninth at the Class 2A Champaign Centennial Sectional. The sophomore shot a 3-over 75 at the U of I Golf Course in Savoy with four birdies. He went 1-over 37 on the front 9, sinking birdies on one and eight. Hopper will be joined by senior teammate Jacob Anderson at Weibring Golf Club in Normal for the state finals.
IHSA golf: Why the state finals are one week later than usual
Washington
The Panthers head to The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington for the Class 3A state finals as team. They captured the program’s first-ever sectional title, winning the Class 3A Decatur MacArthur Sectional by one stroke. Washington (304) edged out Minooka (305) and Chatham Glenwood (306) to grab the win. Junior Gavin Schreurs was the medalist, shooting a 3-under 69 with five birdies, while classmate Dominic Yocum tied for 12th with a 3-over 75.
GIRLS
Leah Brown, Pekin
Brown was the lone Peoria-area Class 2A golfer to get out of the Normal U-High Sectional. The sophomore was tied for 12th with an 11-over 82 at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal. Brown shot a 2-over 38 on the front 9, picking up a birdie on the par-4, 314-yard No. 5. She will now play at the Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur next Friday.
Who from the Peoria area is headed to IHSA state golf in 2024?
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Class 1A boys — Teams: Delavan, Illini West. Individuals: Grady Burrell (Delavan, freshman), Crew Fortin (Illini Bluffs, sophomore), Zachary Highland (Midwest Central, junior), Drake Hanson (North Fulton, sophomore), Reed Fretueg (Rushville-Industry, senior), Landen Plym (Hall, senior), Jacob Miller (Henry, junior), Carson Rowe (Henry, junior), Wyatt Novotny (Bureau Valley, junior), Alex Foutch (Abingdon-Avon, junior), Braden Hayes (El Paso-Gridley, sophomore).
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Class 2A boys — Individuals: Connor Watson (East Peoria, senior), Jack Coulter (Peoria Notre Dame, sophomore), Nolan Eccles (Dunlap, sophomore), Nick Unes (East Peoria, junior), Chase Hopper (Morton, sophomore), Jacob Anderson (Morton, senior).
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Class 3A boys — Teams: Washington.
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Class 1A girls — Teams: Monmouth United. Individuals: Madison Barnes (Olympia, senior), Jessica Schultz (Fieldcrest, senior), Sara Finn (Illini Bluffs, junior) and Natalie Downing (Canton, senior).
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Class 2A girls — Individuals: Leah Brown, Pekin.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA golf 2024: Peoria-area boys and girls golfers to advance to state
